Khon Kaen

Getting Here & Around

By Air

Khon Kaen Airport is one of the region's two major airports (the other is in Udon Thani) and has several daily flights from Bangkok on Thai Airways. The airport is 3 km (2 mi) west of town. Van transfer is available from all the major hotels for B70, and a tuk-tuk costs B100.

By Bus

Khon Kaen has two bus stations in the center of town. The Air-Con Station on Ammart Road has primarily direct buses to and from Bangkok, whereas the Ordinary Station on Prachasamosorn Road has departures to everywhere in the country. Khon Kaen is a central bus hub in Isan, so travel by bus is convenient.

There are regular buses to and from Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Korat, and Loei (all 2- to 4-hour trips). A bus from Bangkok takes about seven hours and costs from around B300 at the Ordinary Bus Station up to B450 at the Air-Con Terminal, which serves mostly VIP buses.

By Car

Khon Kaen is a straight shot up Highway 2 from Bangkok (6 hours), continuing on to Udon Thani. Highway 23 runs west from Ubon Ratchathani, meeting up with Highway 2, 25 km (16 mi) south of Khon Kaen. A number of sights in the area aren't easy to reach via public transport; Narujee Car Rent (Soi Kosa, Si Chan Rd., Khon Kaen. 043/224220) does rentals.

By Samlor & Songthaew

There are public songthaews running on all the major boulevards in Khon Kaen (B10), stopping at 8 pm, and chartered tuk-tuks can be had for B40-B80, depending on the distance traveled.

By Train

Trains to Khon Kaen depart several times daily from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong train station (9 hours), with the best coach being the 8:45 pm sleeper. Fares run from around B400 to B1,175, depending on class of sleeper. Khon Kaen's train station is on Ruan Rom Road, 15 minutes on foot southwest of the center of town.